Why is vulnerability so often seen as weakness—especially at work? And what if it’s actually the key to movement, motivation, and lasting success?

In this episode, Dr. Lola and Polina build on their previous conversation about the basics of the EmC process and dive deeper into one of the most misunderstood leadership strengths: vulnerability.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between withdrawers and pursuers—and how their negative cycle fuels disconnection
• Why we are biologically wired for emotional connection
• How society trained us to suppress emotions in the workplace
• What vulnerability actually looks like in a professional setting
• How sharing emotion safely creates empathy, reassurance, and engagement
• Why vulnerability is the doorway to Stage 2 of the EmC process—healing, bonding, and repair

When leaders suppress emotion, teams get stuck. When leaders access and share vulnerability in a regulated, professional way, they create safety—and safety creates movement.

This episode reframes vulnerability not as emotional exposure, but as emotional clarity. Not as weakness, but as relational courage.

Because we are not robots.
We are wired for connection.
And success begins when we stop shutting down—and start showing up.

The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where you can thrive.

Envision a future where you are more grounded, confident, and in sync with your team.

CONNECT:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
CONTACT US

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @drlolaemc

Connect with Polina Marian:

LinkedIn: Polina Marian
Instagram: @livewithfivekids

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team ...

What happens when a manager doesn’t respond to an employee’s text?
When a request is ignored?
When “we’re just here to do a job” becomes the culture?

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with employment attorney Hanna Ranaan, who has represented both employees and employers and now serves as in-house counsel for a publicly traded company. She gives us a rare inside look at how small moments of avoidance can spiral into miscommunication, discipline, termination—and costly litigation.

We explore:

• How unresponsiveness creates a domino effect of negative assumptions
• Why managers are legally considered agents of the company
• How misunderstandings escalate into lawsuits costing $40,000–$300,000 in defense fees alone
• The hidden cost of turnover and preventable separations
• Why employees often don’t report concerns—even when companies create formal channels
• The resistance HR professionals have to “bringing emotions into work”
• And why emotional connection isn’t about being “touchy-feely”—it’s about creating secure, responsive relationships that reduce legal exposure

Hanna shares real-world examples of how five seconds of responsiveness can prevent months of frustration—and how respect in the workplace is not just a cultural value, but a safety issue.

This episode bridges two worlds: legal risk management and emotional safety. Because when managers avoid difficult conversations, silence communicates something—and the consequences are rarely small.

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or manager who wants to reduce conflict, prevent escalation, and create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up—this conversation is for you.

The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where you can thrive.

Envision a future where you are more grounded, confident, and in sync with your team.

CONNECT:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
CONTACT US

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @drlolaemc

Connect with Polina Marian:

LinkedIn: Polina Marian
Instagram: @livewithfivekids

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team ...

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re talking about something we don’t discuss nearly enough—love, emotional connection, and why they matter so deeply in our work and relationships.

In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore the simplicity of the Emotional Connection (EmC) process and why reconnecting emotionally changes everything—from how clearly we think, to how effectively we work, to how supported we feel in our relationships.

When we’re disconnected, even simple tasks feel exhausting. Our minds feel cluttered. Our energy drops. But when emotional connection is restored, clarity returns, motivation rises, and relationships soften. Dr. Lola shares a personal story that illustrates how quickly reconnection can shift our emotional and mental state—and why emotional safety is the foundation for productivity, collaboration, and trust.

You’ll hear:

• Why emotional disconnection is so draining at work
• How emotional connection brings us out of our heads and back into our hearts
• Why the EmC process works because it’s simple, experiential, and human
• How reconnection creates corrective emotional experiences that repair trust
• Why leaders, trainers, and teams need a clear process—not just communication tips

This conversation is a reminder that emotional connection isn’t extra, soft, or optional—it’s essential. And when we learn how to guide ourselves and others through emotional experiences with care, we create more clarity, resilience, and yes—more love—at work and beyond.

The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where you can thrive.

Envision a future where you are more grounded, confident, and in sync with your team.

CONNECT:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
CONTACT US

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @drlolaemc

Connect with Polina Marian:

LinkedIn: Polina Marian
Instagram: @livewithfivekids

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team ...